Where to Stay in Athens: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Athens is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in Europe. Home to the iconic Acropolis, with its hilltop of millennia-old structures and ruins, Athens is one of the most-visited destinations on the continent.

This bustling Greek capital has a slew of great neighborhoods to explore, each one with its own distinct flavor and character.

While I don’t love Athens, the more time I spend here, the more I warm up to it. It’s huge, with a lot to offer (no matter your interest or budget).

To help you make the most of your trip (and save both time and money), here is where to stay in Athens. There are a lot of neighborhoods to choose from so I’m going to highlight the best ones for travelers.

 
For more detail, here’s a breakdown of each neighborhood in Athens, with suggested accommodations for each:

 

Where to Stay for Sightseeing: Plaka

Plaka, located right under the Acropolis, is unavoidable if you’re in Athens for longer than a few hours. This is the main area of the city where you’ll find the majority of ruins and tourist attractions. It’s also an area where limestone-paved streets are flanked by fun bars, cafés, and restaurants. Despite the crowds, I think the area is beautiful and it’s one of my favorite parts of Athens. If you stay here, you’ll be in the center of it all.

Best Places to Stay in Plaka:

BUDGET: Dioskouros – This hostel is located on a quiet street near the Acropolis, offering an amazing location for a super affordable price. There’s AC (a must in the summer) and free Wi-Fi, and some rooms on the upper floors even have views of the Acropolis. The hostel feels homey, and while the bunks are simple and not overly comfortable, they have female-only rooms and it’s easy to socialize here. If you’re on a budget, it’s your best option in the neighborhood. You really can’t beat the location!

MIDRANGE: Athens Center Square Hotel – True to its name, this is in the center of absolutely everything, with great views of the Acropolis from many rooms (so be sure to ask for one). There’s also a rooftop terrace with a bar where you can take in the view. Rooms are simple but not too small, featuring flatscreen TVs and air conditioning, and a daily buffet breakfast is included (with both Greek and American cuisine). There’s free tea and coffee in the lobby all day too.

LUXURY: Plaka Hotel – Comfortable and friendly, Plaka Hotel is (you guessed it) in the heart of Plaka. A simply decorated hotel, it boasts stellar views of the Acropolis from both in-room balconies and the rooftop terrace bar/restaurant. There’s also a complimentary buffet breakfast featuring local specialties. The rooms are on the smaller side but have comfortable beds, flatscreen TVs, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and safes. It’s not too loud here either, making for a simple but comfortable stay in the heart of it all.
 

Where to Stay for Nightlife: Psyrri

Bars and diminutive meze restaurants fill Psyrri (sometimes spelled Psiri). Once a rather sedate, working-class part of town, Psyrri is now one of the best places to gravitate to at night for eating, drinking, and debauchery. It’s my favorite place in the city to spend time in. You have some great little squares, eateries, and bars here. And, despite being close to the main sights, there are a lot of locals here too.

Best Places to Stay in Psyrri:

BUDGET: Pella Inn Hostel – Just a few minutes stroll from the Monastiraki metro station, Pella has both dorms and private rooms (with and without a private bathroom). The decor is simple and the dorm beds aren’t super comfortable (they are just basic bunks with a curtain), but the rooms have lockers, and some even have balconies where you can take in the view. While it’s not overly social, you can’t beat the location. They have female-only dorms too.

MIDRANGE: Athensdot – This property has all the perks of a midrange hotel: a nice location near lots of fun bars and restaurants, free Wi-Fi, rooms with large flatscreen TVs, and friendly service. The hotel has a cool, pop-art design throughout, with large-scale drawings on the walls and bright bursts of red everywhere. There’s also a gym on-site as well as a relaxing sun terrace and jacuzzi.

LUXURY: Lotus Inn – The spacious rooms of this four-star hotel are bedecked with hardwood floors, plus-sized TVs, and upscale bath products. The beds are large and comfortable, and the rooms are airy and bright. Some even have balconies with views. There’s a hot tub on the premises too, in case you really need to relax after a day of exploring. The staff here really go out of their way to make you feel welcome too.
 

Where to Stay for Street Art: Exarcheia

Exarcheia, north of the National Archeological Museum, has a highly energetic student vibe. It’s also historically home to the city’s anarchist set so it’s also got a little punk flair to it. The once-bare walls of Exarcheia are now bathed in street art, much of it intriguingly political. One of the more affordable places to stay in Athens, stay here if you want to get away from the tourists and be surrounded by locals.

Best Places to Stay in Exarcheia:

BUDGET: Nubian Hostel Athens – With murals and artwork in every room, this hostel fits right in with the neighborhood’s artsy vibe. There are mixed and female-only dorms, as well as private rooms, common areas, and a backyard patio. There’s also daily free breakfast and a free happy hour with wine every night.

MIDRANGE: Dryades & Orion Hotel – Hugging a hilly park, this chill hotel has rooms with views of the Acropolis. The rooms have unique homey décor and eclectic furniture, plus all the normal mid-range hotel amenities (air conditioning, tea/coffee makers, minifridges). The main highlight for me, though, is that it has a lovely roof garden in which to watch the sunset while sipping a glass of wine. And don’t miss the homecooked breakfast buffet; it features local cuisine and is served on the rooftop.

LUXURY: Colors Hotel Athens – Colors is a four-star hotel that offers bright, spacious, and cheery accommodations with free Wi-Fi, rainmaker showers, and cozy bathrobes. There’s also a fantastic and extensive breakfast buffet that changes a bit every day (though there’s always fresh homemade pastries, fruit, cereal, eggs, and yogurt).
 

Where to Stay for Families: Kolonaki

Upscale, quiet, and clean, Kolonaki is a lovely oasis that is home to several great museums. It’s a good base for families because it’s still close to all the major attractions but has quiet, uncrowded streets. This district is renowned for its upscale clothes and jewelry boutiques, shoe stores, art galleries, and is home to my favorite tea shop, To Tsai.

Best Places to Stay in Kolonaki:

BUDGET: Project 3 Urban Chic Hotel – Budget hotels are few and far between here (unless you stay in a private aparthotel) as this is an upscale district. Project 3 is about as cheap as it gets. A boutique hotel, it offers stylish rooms with chic decor and lighting. The beds are plush and comfortable, and the rooms feature air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, cozy bathrobes, minibars, and soundproofing. The bathrooms are bright and the showers are especially great (I love a shower with strong water pressure). I also appreciate that breakfast is available in-room each morning and that they have vegan and vegetarian options.

MIDRANGE: Coco-Mat Hotel – This four-star hotel has a light and airy design, with wooden accents and a soft color palate. Rooms are equipped with TVs with international channels, free and fast Wi-Fi, Nespresso machines, and upscale bath products. There’s a fantastic Greek breakfast buffet in the mornings and it’s located just steps away from great restaurants and bars too.

LUXURY: St. George Lycabettus – A luxe five-star hotel, the ultra-spacious rooms here are stylish and comfortable featuring lots of natural light. Many have balconies; some boast panoramic views of the Acropolis. Rooms and in-room bathrooms are accented with marble; the rooms also have AC, minibars, and super-fast Wi-Fi. There’s also a fitness center and a spa/wellness center on site. If you want to splash out, stay here.

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Athens is bursting at the seams with delicious food, ancient history, and affordable activities. While Plaka and Psyrri may be my personal favorite districts to stay in, the mix of vibrant, eclectic, and fun neighborhoods ensures that no matter where you choose to stay in Athens, you’ll have an amazing time!